Why Is This Okay? Mom Reveals the Disgusting ‘Pumping Room’ She Was Forced to Use at Work

In a heartbreaking tale of the less-than-livable conditions one mom was forced to use as a pumping room while at work, Bobbi Bockoras details how she ended up pumping to feed her daughter at 106 degrees on a dirty floor, with dead bugs as her onlycompany.

Below is the full text of Bobbi’s story, as it appeared on the ACLU website. It’s both horrifying and heartening; amazing how a woman could rise above such an inhumane situation to do what’s best for her baby.

Bobbi writes:

“For the last six years I’ve worked at Saint Gobain Verallia, a glass-bottling factory in Port Allegany, PA operating heavy machinery. I’m one of a few women that work on the male-dominated factory line. . I also have two beautiful children, one of whom, my sweet daughter Lyla, was born very recently. I love my children, and I love my work. I’ve had this job for the past six years, and it’s made it possible for me to provide for my family.

I firmly believe that breastfeeding is the best thing for my baby. I had breastfed my firstborn, and knew it was healthy for me and for my baby. I also knew that my employer was legally obligated to provide me reasonable break time under the newly-passed “Nursing Mothers Provision” of the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “Obamacare”). So when I became pregnant with my second child, I made clear to my supervisor that I intended to return to work, that I wanted to continue breastfeeding and that I would need accommodations to pump. I even dropped off a copy of the law at the Human Resources department. But both my supervisor and HR were apparently ignorant of the new law: my supervisor initially told me to pump in the bathroom.

If they had actually read the law, like I had done, they would have known that a sanitary space for pumping explicitly excludes restrooms.

When I returned to work, I was placed on the day shift so that I could take the breaks I needed and I could maintain my pumping schedule. But in the room my employer gave me to pump in, I was constantly interrupted by my male coworkers pounding on the door and harassing me.

When I complained, each alternative my employer offered was worse than the last – for example, a room that was made almost entirely of glass that offered no privacy, a shower room, a room with no way to lock the doors… You get the picture.

I eventually agreed to use an old locker room, even though it was filthy, because at least it had a lock on the door – and they said they’d clean it up. But when I showed up to pump there a few days later, I found that the room had not been cleaned: it was covered in dirt and dead bugs, the floor was unfinished and had large patches missing from it, and there was no air conditioning – which is serious, because temperatures can get up to 106 degrees on the factory floor. The only furniture in the room was a single chair. I was completely disgusted, but what could I do? I only had a short break before I had to be back on my shift, and my baby has to eat, so I pumped there anyway. Even though I complained that it was filthy, the company did not have it cleaned. To make matters worse, shortly after that, someone took the chair from the room, which is how I found myself pumping on the floor, with dead bugs for company.

After weeks of my complaining about these conditions and the harassment I was experiencing, my supervisor and the HR manager informed me, without explanation, that I would be switched to the rotating shift, effective the following week. The rotating shift requires workers to switch between days and nights frequently, including an 11:30 pm – 7:30 am shift. The company has refused to budge from this decision, even though they know that this puts an enormous strain on me and my child care situation, and even after I produced doctors’ notes saying I needed to be on the day shift to help me keep a regular schedule for breastfeeding my baby. My request was denied. To add insult to injury when I requested to be put back on days, an HR representative told me that I would probably be harassed regardless of what shift I was on.

Being on the rotating shift has impacted my ability to breast feed, as the amount of breast milk I’m producing has plummeted. I’ve had to give my baby formula, which goes against my beliefs about what’s best for her.

The harassment I faced at work also escalated. On two occasions, someone “greased” the door handle of the room – some of my coworkers covered the door knob with thick, dirty grease (it even had shards of metal in it). I was beside myself, and complained again and again, but they’ve never identified the culprits and no steps were taken to train my colleagues to prevent further harassment.

The whole time, I could not believe this was happening to me – and how hard I’ve had to fight for nothing more than what the law required – in 2013!

When, 10 weeks after I returned to work, I still did not have a clean and private location to pump, I started contacting legal organizations for help. I am pursuing the legal routes available to me because of my struggle, and because of my strong belief in breastfeeding. I know that even if Saint Gobain Verallia makes changes in the face of legal pressure, I may never regain the ability to breastfeed my child. However, I hope that my story will help inform other nursing workers of their rights, and educate employers about their legal obligations. No woman should have to go through what I did simply to do what’s best for her baby.”

To moms everywhere: Don’t forget how important your triumphs are — for other moms who need you; and don’t forget how brave you are — for the babies who depend on you.

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Kylie is the Editorial Assistant at TheBump.com with an affinity for weird news and celebrity gossip. She's mom to an excellently behaved DVR -- want to see photos? Just ask! Follow her on Twitter at @kyliemcconv. read more

This is completely uncalled for. Being a manager myself I have personally let someone use my office wit the door locked.
I was also lucky enough to have managers that have done this same thing for other breast feeding Mothers. It respect Wth or without the laws. You do what is right.

Thank you for your sacrifice to help a breastfeeding mother :) I was lucky enough to have an understanding manager and assistant manager who provided their offices to me for privacy as well. Pumping is stressful enough without having to go through all of the harassment this woman had to endure. I hope she wins her lawsuit and a huge settlement so this doesn’t happen to the next new mother on their staff or anywhere.

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I’m beyond thrilled that this brave woman was able to overcome all her obstacles and provide sustenance for her child. I’m disheartened that in this day and age-there are still companies that refuse to provide adequately for nursing mothers’. This is America people! I’m so fortunate that the company I work for not only provided a separate, safe and secure room for pumping, but also had a computer that I could use while nursing. I actually miss my time in that room! Mommas-don’t give up the good fight. Nurse on and do what nature intended for your babies! :)

WOW. Unbelievable. I hope she wins a big lawsuit against them, not only so that the company is forced to correct its transgressions, but also so she can get some money to hold her over until she finds a better job.

How devastating. I am appalled and disgusted at the treatment you received from not only the company but your coworkers. In 2013, you would think that companies and employees would be wiser to discrimination and providing a safe work environment for every single person in their employ. It amazes me that after 10 weeks you still were not afforded accommodations that were sanitary, private and calm. I hope for your sake, whatever comes out of this, they are held accountable and future female employees who breastfeed are not made to feel harassed or put in this kind of despicable situation. I also hope this is your former employee! How horrendous! I hope you hit them where it hurts! Good luck!